Guard Your Heart
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” – Proverbs 4:23
In this simple yet profound verse, Proverbs 4:23 the phrase “Guard your heart” highlights the importance of our inner life, and the impact it has on our entire existence. Translated across various versions, it reads that out of our heart flow “the issues of life” or that “life springs from the heart.” This emphasis on the heart can also be seen throughout the teachings of Jesus. Jesus in Matthew 15:18-20 reminds us that it’s from our heart that our words, thoughts, and actions emerge:
“But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you.” – Jesus
When the Bible speaks of the heart, it isn’t simply referring to the physical organ or even just emotions. In the context of Hebrew and Greek thought, the “heart” represents the very core of our being—the “inner man.” This includes our will, intellect, passions, and emotions.
Understanding the Heart in Scripture: The Seat of Emotions and Will
The Hebrew and Greek words for “heart” encompass much more than what we think of today. In Jewish theology, the heart is the seat of our innermost being, our decision-making, our feelings, our desires, and our very motivations. It’s where our thoughts are formed, our beliefs reside, and from where our character and actions flow.
When we read in Proverbs to “guard your heart,” it’s not just a vague caution. It’s a call to actively watch over and cultivate our inner life, being mindful of what we allow to shape us. In his book, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, pastor and author Peter Scazzero writes, “It is not possible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.” The implications are clear: to experience deep spiritual growth, we must first acknowledge the role of emotional maturity in our journey. If we remain emotionally immature, we hinder our ability to grow spiritually.
It is not possible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.”
– Peter Scazzero
Emotional Maturity: Key to Guard your Heart
The Bible reveals that our emotions, part of our heart, shape our intellectual and spiritual lives. The challenge is that many people might have a deep knowledge of Scripture and a love for God but still struggle with emotional immaturity. Without emotional maturity, it’s difficult to grow in spiritual maturity.
Think about it. If our thoughts and actions are often influenced by unresolved emotions or reactive behaviors, then we are not fully walking in the freedom that Christ offers. In the greatest commandment, Jesus calls us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart.” We can’t fully love God unless we fully understand our hearts, including our emotions and motives.
This brings us to an essential question: how can we love God with all our heart if we don’t understand and manage our emotions well? Emotional immaturity blocks us from the depth of love God calls us to. When our hearts are clouded with unresolved anger, fear, jealousy, or trauma, we are unable to express love fully.
Practical Steps to Guard Your Heart and Grow in Emotional Maturity
- Examine Your Emotions Regularly. Journaling, prayer, and honest reflection can help you identify any emotions that may be influencing your thoughts and actions. King David often poured out his heart in the Psalms, sharing both joy and anguish. Emulate his openness before God to understand what lies beneath your own emotions.
- Seek Wisdom from Scripture. Proverbs 4:23 encourages guarding our hearts, but wisdom from the Bible also shows us how to do this. The fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are all characteristics of a mature heart in alignment with God’s will.
- Commit to Growth in Community. Often, we need others to help us see the areas where we’re emotionally stuck or struggling. Trusted relationships, whether friends, mentors, or counselors, can provide perspective and accountability as we learn to manage our emotions and grow spiritually.
- Invite the Holy Spirit into Your Heart. As we learn to manage our emotions, we can invite the Holy Spirit to shape and heal our hearts. Prayer and surrender enable the Spirit to bring to light the areas that need growth, revealing how we can better love and serve God with all of our hearts.
- Practice Forgiveness and Letting Go. A critical part of guarding our hearts involves releasing past hurts and forgiving others. Unforgiveness can harden our hearts and block the flow of God’s love. Practicing forgiveness, even when it’s hard, is essential for a healthy heart.
Books I Enjoyed on this Topic
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality – Peter Scazzero
Emotionally Healthy Discipleship – Peter Scazzero
(Amazon Affiliate Links)
Conclusion: Guarding Your Heart is a Path to Deeper Love and Growth
In the journey toward spiritual maturity, it’s not just about the knowledge but the depth of transformation in our hearts. Loving God with all our heart means engaging in the hard work of examining and guarding our inner life. In Proverbs, we see the wisdom of God urging us to cultivate an emotionally mature heart, one that can fully love Him and respond to the world with compassion and integrity. Let’s strive to guard our hearts as Scripture guides us so that, from the fullness of our hearts, our lives overflow with the goodness and love of God.
In learning to guard our hearts, we discover what it means to be transformed from the inside out, aligning our emotions, thoughts, and actions with the heart of God. This is the path of true maturity—both emotional and spiritual.
Prayer
Lord, help me to guard my heart by learning to understand everything that is in it. Not just for my health, but so that I can love you fully, with HEART, soul, strength and mind. – Amen